With restaurants closing earlier, a long lunch has never seemed so appealing. Here's where to try London's best establishments with entry-level set lunch offers. But remember:
- Always make sure that the set lunch deal is running for the day of your booking
- If there's something you've always wanted to try from a restaurant, and don't mind paying full price, ask about adding it on to what you're ordering.
- And if you want to stick to the budget, tread lightly around the wine list.
Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester
Mayfair - 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA
This three Michelin-starred restaurant (a rarity in London) from this esteemed French chef is hidden inside the Dorchester and normally costs an arm and a leg. The set price lunch is an excellent way to test the place out without hurting your bank balance too much and changes every Wednesday.
The offer: Three courses (amuse-bouche and mignardises too), two glasses of wine, half a bottle of mineral water and coffee or tea for £65.
Available: Wednesday to Friday
Find out more about Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester
Aqua Shard
The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY
Dinner in any of the Shard's restaurants can be hard on the wallet, but head up there for lunch and you can take advantage of Aqua Shard's set price lunch. And yes, there's one of the best views in town to enjoy while you're there. So that's a bonus.
The offer: Two courses £29 or three for £34
Available: Tuesday to Friday
Find out more about Aqua Shard
Aquavit
St James's Market, 1 Carlton Street, London SW1Y 4QQ
St James isn't the first, second or even third place you'd look to for a bargain meal out in London but two courses for under £25 is a bit of a steal in these here parts. Expect a bit of Nordic action here.
The offer: Two courses, £29, three courses £32
Available: Wednesday to Friday
Arros QD
64 Eastcastle St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 8NQ
This restaurant is top Spanish chef Quique Dacosta's London outpost and the main attraction is their paella, created with state of the art equipment. And they do have a paella dish included in the set menu.
The offer: Two courses, £23
Available: Noon to 2pm, Monday to Friday.
Berners Tavern
Fitzrovia - 10 Berners Street, London W1T 3NP
This is one of Jason Atherton's restaurants and is part of the Edition hotel in Fitzrovia. It's also blessed with one of the most jaw-dropping dining rooms in town.
The offer: 2 courses £24.50, 3 courses £29.50
Available: Wednesday - Friday
Find out more about Berners Tavern
Claude Bosi at Bibendum
South Kensington - 62 Seymour St, Marylebone, London W1H 5BN
This is one of the rare two Michelin starred restaurants in London and Bosi's high-end French cooking is definitely something that should be experienced. Plus its setting within the original Michelin building makes it seem very at home.
The offer: Three courses for £75, including coffee and water.
Available: Friday - Saturday
Find out more about Claude Bosi at Bibendum
Caractere
Notting Hill - 209 Westbourne Park Road, London W11 1EA
The latest generation of the Roux family has entered the restaurant business as Emily Roux teamed up with her husband (the head chef) Diego Ferrari opening this Notting Hill restaurant. The tasting menu is split into five sections and you can choose one of your courses from those.
The offer: Three courses for £39
Available: Thursday - Saturday (from October)
Church Road
Barnes - 94 Church Road, London SW13 0DQ
This restaurant is from Rebecca Mascarenhas and Phil Howard who changed what used to be Sonny's into something new. It has a menu focused on British seasonal produce - "local where available – some foraged, some farm-grown, some wild"
The offer: 2 courses £24.50, 3 courses £27.50
Available: Saturday
Find out more about Church Road
Core by Clare Smyth
Notting Hill - 92 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2PN
This is Clare Smyth's first solo restaurant and became an immediate hit, winning two Michelin stars in less than a year, as well as getting a Best Female Chef awards from the World's 50 Best team.
The offer: Three courses for £85
The choice: Four choices each course
Available: Thursday - Saturday
La Dame de Pic
Tower Hill - Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square, 10 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4AJ
Anne-Sophie Pic (with Michelin stars to her name in France) has brought her style of high-end French dining to the rather opulent Four Seasons right by Tower Bridge, and swiftly won two Michelin stars in London too.
The offer: £35 for 2 courses, £45 for 3, £55 for 4
The choice: 3 options per courses
Find out more about La Dame de Pic
Da Terra
Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, London E2 9NF
This Latin American and Italian inspired restaurant in Bethnal Green won a deserved Michelin star in its first year for its truly inspired tasting menus. Lunchtime sees them offering a cut-down version.
The offer: £65 for 5 courses
The choice: Tasting menu
Available: Friday - Saturday
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
Heston's Mandarin Oriental restaurant is always one of the most popular restaurants in London. You won't get the Tipsy Cake or Meat Fruit for the set lunch price but it's a good way to experience one of the hottest tickets in town - and you can always add one of those dishes on top too.
The offer: £39 for 2 courses, £48 for 3
The choice: 2 options per courses
Available: Monday to Friday
Find out more about Dinner by Heston
Elystan Street
Chelsea - 43 Elystan St, London SW3 3NT
This is chef Phil Howard's main restaurant in Chelsea, so if you're a fan of his cooking, this is the place to come. It's earned him a Michelin star and while dinner at Elystan Street can end up being pretty punchy, this makes their set lunch deal an even bigger draw.
The offer: Three courses £30
Available: Monday to Friday from 12.30 - 14.45
Find out more about Elystan Street
Frenchie
Covent Garden - 16 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QH
This Parisian import quickly got a lot of positive buzz, showing that it is possible to make a very successful move from Paris to London. The set menu at lunch is an ideal chance to try it out, and you should add a bacon scone on top.
The offer: Two courses for £29 and three for £32
Available: Every day
The Game Bird
Mayfair - The Stafford London, 16-18 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NJ
This is the main restaurant at the Stafford Hotel, where the food is looked after by ex Salt Yard's Ben Tish. Expect an emphasis on British cooking and game in the main restaurant.
The offer: Two courses for £25, three courses for £30
The choice: Three options per course
Find out more about The Game Bird
Galvin at Windows
Mayfair - Hilton, 22 Park Ln, London W1K 1BE
Sadly the wonderful Fred Sirieix is no longer in charge, but you can still experience fantastic food with that 'magic touch', enjoying one of the best views in London on top of the Park Lane Hilton Hotel overlooking Hyde Park.
The offer: 45 for four courses
The choice: 1 or 2 options per course
Find out more about Galvin at Windows
Gymkhana
42 Albemarle St, Mayfair, London W1S 4JH
One of the best Indian restaurants to open in London for years, Gymkhana has a great entry-level set lunch menu making this Mayfair spot even more of an attractive proposition.
The choice: 3-4 options for starters, main and four for dessert - with mains served with Dal Lasooni, Aloo Hara Pyaz. The meal also kicks off with a pappadum selection
The offer: 2 courses for £27.50 or 3 for £32.50 (add a carafe of wine for £19 or house punch for £9)
Hawksmoor
Spitalfields, Borough, City, Mayfair, Covent Garden, Knightsbridge
Famed for serving some of the best steaks in town, Hawksmoor also offer a very good deal on their Express Menu at lunchtimes across almost all of their restaurants (and early evening as well).
The offer: Two courses for £20 or three for £23.
The choice: 3-4 choices per course, including rump steak
Available: Monday to Sunday (times change at each branch)
Hereford Road
3 Hereford Rd, Bayswater, London W2 4AB
Hereford Road has a regularly changing menu of seasonal British classics, led by chef/co-founder Tom Pemberton. The set lunch changes daily and is a pretty damned good deal.
The offer: Two courses for £13.50 or three for £15.50.
The choice: Three starters, three mains and three dessert choices.
Available: Monday to Friday
Find out more about Hereford Road
The Grill at the Dorchester
53 Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 1QA
Head Chef Tom Booton has brought a new lease of life to The Grill and quite a few plaudits along the way with his modern approach. The set lunch includes a few of his signature dishes so it's well worth trying.
The offer: Two courses for £20 or three for £27.
Available: Friday - Saturday (Tues - Sat from 1 Nov)
Ikoyi
1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4AH
This restaurant in St James's Market really adds something new to the London restaurant scene (and earned a Michelin star in double-quick time). The set lunch is an ideal opportunity to try out Jeremy Chan's inventive cooking.
The offer: Set menu of three courses (no dessert) for £50
Available: Monday - Friday
Imperial Treasure
9-10 Waterloo Pl, St. James's, London SW1Y 4BE
The original Imperial Treasure in Shanghai has two Michelin stars and this is their London restaurant. Expect a high-end Chinese dining experience and the Peking duck is the main attraction. The set lunch features roasted Cantonese duck.
The offer: 2 courses for £28 (Several set menus available)
Available: Monday - Friday
Find out more about Imperial Treasure
Kerridge's Bar and Grill
Corinthia Hotel, Whitehall Pl, Westminster, London SW1A 2BD
Tom Kerridge earned two Michelin stars at the Hand and Flowers in Marlow and this sees him setting up shop at the Corinthia hotel for his London debut. The main dinner menu isn't on the cheap side (the fish and chips is pricey) so this is an ideal way to give the restaurant a whirl.
The offer: Two courses for £24 or three for £29.50.
The choice: Two options per course
Available: Monday - Friday
Find out more about Kerridge's Bar and Grill
Le Gavroche
43 Upper Brook St, Mayfair, London W1K 7QR
One of London's classiest restaurants this can also end up being one of London's most expensive. Go to Le Gavroche if you want to experience some of the most exquisite service and classic food in London and their legendary lunch deal will help you avoid a phone call with your bank manager.
The offer: Set lunch for £76 (inc service) includes three courses, half a bottle of wine, half-bottle of mineral water, petit fours and coffee
The choice: Three options per course
Available: Wednesday- Friday
Find out more about Le Gavroche
Marcus
The Berkeley, Wilton Pl, Belgravia, London SW1X 7RL
Marcus Wareing's flagship restaurant (and the only one where you'll find him in the kitchen) is Michelin-starred but the service is modern and unfussy. If it's on the menu, order the custard tart as an added extra.
The offer: 3 courses for £50
The choice: Three options per course
Mere
74 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia, London W1T
This is the first solo restaurant from ex-Le Gavroche chef Monica Galetti, with her husband David Galetti in charge of the wine. So you'll want a quick pit-stop in their bar before dining here.
The offer: Two courses for £29 and three for £35 (cheese for a £6.50 supplement).
The choice: Two options per course
Available: Monday - Friday
Murano
Queen St, Mayfair, London W1J 5PP
Angela Hartnett's flagship, Michelin-starred restaurant serves up exquisite Italian food but at a price. Happily, the set menu brings it down to most people's budgets.
The offer: Two courses for £30 and three for £35
The choice: Three options per course
Muse
38 Groom Pl, Belgravia, London SW1X 7BA
This is Tom Aikens restaurant in London, set across two floors of a Belgravia townhouse. Expect a range of dishes with extreme attention to detail in the creation, all reflecting on Aikens' life.
The offer: Three courses for £50
The choice: Two options per course
The Ninth
22 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2NB
Jun Tanaka's Michelin-starred Fitzrovian restaurant serves up a selection of delectable small plates and the set menu for lunch is a pretty good deal.
The offer: Three plates for £29
When: Friday to Saturday
Noble Rot (Holborn & Soho)
51 Lamb's Conduit St, London WC1N 3NB and 2 Greek St Soho London W1D 4NB
Both the Noble Rots are excellent spots for whiling away an agreeable afternoon and you can be sure that the wine lists are on point too. The set lunches at both represent excellent value - and you could always spend the money you've saved on more wine.
The offer: Two courses for £18, three courses for £22
The choice: Set menu
Pied a Terre
34 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NH
Expect exquisitely sourced and prepared ingredients from David Moore's Michelin-starred kitchen where Asimakis Chaniotis is now running the kitchen.
The offer: Three courses for £29.50 (many more options available)
The choice: Set menu
Find out more about Pied a Terre
Pollen Street Social
8-10 Pollen St, Mayfair, London W1S 1NQ
Jason Atherton has a mini restaurant empire across London, but this is his flagship and the one where you may see him in the kitchen too.
The offer: Three courses for £45
The choice: Three options per course, cheese requires £8 supplement.
Available: Monday - Saturday 12 - 2.30pm
Find out more about Pollen Street Social
Quality Chop House
92–94 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3EA
There has been a Quality Chop House in London for 150 years. But for our mind, the current iteration with Shaun Searley in the kitchen may just be the best. The confit potatoes are extra - but do not think of leaving without ordering them,
The offer: Two courses for £24, three courses for £28
The choice: 4-5 options per course.
Find out more about Quality Chop House
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
68 Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HP
Gordon's flagship restaurant on Royal Hospital Road is still damned hard to get into. It continues to retain its rare three Michelin-starred status, so it's still a big draw.
The offer: Three courses for £75
The choice: Two options per course
Available: Monday to Friday.
Find out more about Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
The Ritz
150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR
One of the very few places in town to demand a suit and tie, The Ritz is definitely reserved for a special occasion. Led by chef John Williams, the classic restaurant sports a much deserved Michelin star and can't be beaten for glitzy spectacle.
The offer: Three courses for £55.20
The choice: Three choices per course
Sartoria
20 Savile Row, Mayfair, London W1S 3PR
This Mayfair Italian restaurant has Francesco Mazzei in charge of the kitchen - his main high-end place - and it's become a hot restaurant in the process.
The offer: Two courses for £26.50, three courses for £32.50
The choice: Three choices per course
Savoy Grill
Savoy Hotel, London WC2R 0EU
This iconic British venue is now one of Gordon Ramsay's group of restaurants - and remains one of London's classic dining institutions.
The offer: Two courses for £30, three courses for £35
The choice: Four choices per course, sides extra
Find out more about Savoy Grill
Townsend
77-82 Whitechapel High St, Shadwell, London E1 7QX
Set within the Whitechapel Gallery, this restaurant from Nick Gilkinson and Joe Fox (ex Petersham Nurseries) serves up modern British food with an ever-changing seasonal menu.
The offer: Two courses for £16, three courses for £20
The choice: Choice of main course
Wildflower
Buck Street Market, Camden High Street, NW1 8QP
This is the first restaurant from Irish chef Adrian Martin, set within a shipping container in Camden's Buck St Market. There's a big focus on locally sourced and foraged produce as well as sustainability - expect all that to apply to a regularly changing menu.
The offer: Two courses for £24, three courses for £30
The choice: Two options per course.
Available: Thursday - Saturday
Find out more about Wildflower
Wild Honey St James
8 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5NG
Anthony Demetre's famed restaurant left its original Mayfair location to re-open in a much swankier space on Pall Mall. Here, he's combining French techniques with British ingredients and you'll see many of the old favourites on the menu.
The offer: Two courses for £23, three courses for £27
The choice: Three options per course.
Available: Daily
Find out more about Wild Honey
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